BURLINGTON  Judicial District Manager
Jeff Allen may not be able to put into words what made him pursue
a career in probation  its just something thats
in his blood. Just as some people come from a family of doctors
or farmers, Jeff comes from a family that earns its living
working for the criminal justice system.

Jeffs grandfather, Frank
Barnhart, was a highway patrolman for 36 years, his
father, J.B. Allen, is a superior court judge and his
brother, Brad Allen, is a district attorney.

While his grandfather is enjoying his retirement
after working nearly four decades for the highway patrol,
the rest of the Allen men are still hard at work pursuing
justice.

Even though Judge Allen cannot preside
over any cases where Brad is the prosecutor or any cases
that Jeff was involved in as a probation officer because
of conflicts of interest, that does not stop the elder
Allen from trying to give his sons some fatherly advice.
After all, he has experience doing both their jobs.
Before becoming a judge, J.B. Allen worked as a probation
officer for five years and, later after law school, as an
assistant district attorney for two years. He then became
a district court judge before accepting his current
position as a superior court judge.

"Were very close. I certainly
dont give them advice on specific cases, but they come to
me for general advice," he said.

Following his fathers lead, Jeff began
his career in 1983 as a probation officer. But instead of turning
to law school like his father, Jeff decided to remain with
probation and was eventually promoted to unit supervisor while
working in District 9A. In February of 1998 he was appointed to
his current position as JDM of District 15A in Alamance County
where he oversees a staff of 42 employees.

While his brother was pursuing a career in
probation, Brad decided to take the law school route and landed a
job with the district attorneys office soon after
graduation. As a prosecutor in Alamance County for the past nine
and a half years, Brad has handled all types of cases, but mainly
felonies such as drug cases, assaults and murders. Next year,
there may be two judges in the Allen family, as Brad has plans to
run for district court judge.

With so much in common in their professional
lives, one might think that criminal justice would be the hot
topic when the Allen men get together. Yet the truth is quite the
opposite.

"When we get together for family
gatherings, we dont talk law," Judge Allen said.
"We try very hard not to bring it home with us." u